FRISCO -- Once archaeologists put tweezers to the ruins of Jerry Jones' vast empire, they'll be astonished to learn that over the first three decades of his tumultuous reign, he fired a head coach midseason just once. And only then because a preordained successor was on the premises.

What this means is that, at least in the short term, Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere.

Do you think you have the owner's support, Jason?

"Yes," he said, without elaborating.

Sorry if that ruined your day.

Take all the encouragement you want from Jerry's comments after Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Texans, when he answered a question by saying the Cowboys were being outplayed and the head coach needed to take a risk instead of punting in overtime. Never mind that Jerry was right. An accidental indictment, it turns out.

Garrett has since had the opportunity to explain the rationale to his boss at Monday morning's meetings. Must have sounded better than it did at the head coach's news conference later in the afternoon.

Either that or it tells you all you need to know about Garrett's job security these days.

Garrett talked often Monday about what did or didn't make sense Sunday in Houston, and there was a lot of logic in it. Also a few holes. Not-so-little things, like, if you believed so much in your defense in overtime, why not defer the kick? Then if you hold the Texans, you only need a field goal to win outright.

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For that matter, did the defense really play so great? Tremendous in the red zone, no question. But the Texans didn't need a touchdown. Only a field goal, which didn't seem unreasonable against a Cowboys defense that gave up 6.1 yards per play, a yard more than its season average.

Of course, if you could only bet on the Cowboys' offense or defense Sunday, it was no contest, pretty much as it has been all season.

The biggest difference between the two teams from Texas was that Houston had a great receiver, and Dak can't find an average one.

Watching DeAndre Hopkins catch a football would not remind you of anyone employed by the Cowboys. Not only are his hands always in the correct position, he actually uses them. He's also large, meaning defensive backs can't muscle or turn him, as Houston's defensive backs did while manhandling the Cowboys' crew.

Now, I know what you're thinking, and, no, Dez isn't the answer. Unless it's the Dez of 2014. The Brice Butler of 2017 would probably look good now, and he can hardly get on the field.

Idk what Jerry meant by that #1 WR but I’m damn for sure would have kept them chains moving...

Here's how bad it is: If the Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey could pick out a Cowboys receiver to jaw with this week, like he did with the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill, who would it be?

Anyone?

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Don't even get me started at tight end, either.

Asked if the Cowboys can still contend if the passing game doesn't improve, Garrett skipped the first part of the question and said, "We have to get better." No question about it.

But here's the crazy thing: Even if it doesn't get much better, the Cowboys can still contend in the pitiful NFC East.

Washington occupies first place almost by default. The defending Super Bowl champs have the same record as the Cowboys.

And the Giants have already imploded.

The Cowboys still have two games each with Washington and Philadelphia and finish up against New York. The division is wide, wide open. No need to raise the white flag now.

Not like the Cowboys did in 2010 after Wade Phillips started 1-7. It was over then. Jerry also had a ready replacement in Garrett, the guy he wanted all along.

If Garrett goes now, who replaces him? The Cowboys have two former head coaches on staff in Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli. Linehan was 11-25 in a little more than two seasons as a head coach, and that's the good news. Marinelli went 10-38.

Besides, do you really want the guy in charge of this offense making calls for the rest of the team?

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And do you want anyone distracted from managing the team's greatest strength?

If this team is going anywhere this season, it'll be on the back of its defense. Even that seems a little far-fetched. This looks more and more like another 8-8 bunch, and if it is, it should be Garrett's last.

Fire him now, though, and you remove any possibility that the Cowboys get a little lucky. Give Garrett 11 more games. Chances are, you still get your wish.